irene-mccartney06

Scriptwriter Ekaterina Tirdatova and director Nurbek Egen cleverly weave this cross-cultural story across a series of national and international frontiers in such a way that nothing seems force. The amoral Ascel (played in a brilliant debut performance by Maral Koichukaraeva) decides to leave her tiny village and messy personal life by stealing money from her new husband and heading for the big city and a better life – she hopes. But nothing turns out as she expects. Thrown into the polyglot culture of Moscow's underclass, peopled by immigrants from the far-flung former Soviet republics and controlled with casual brutality by police and criminals alike, Ascel somehow keeps her head above water by replying on her beauty and taking the path of least resistance. But one senses that her luck cant last.........

An interesting documentary by The Independent Film Trust about its Film School in a Box project to provide training in basic aspects of film training for disadvantaged people - people who would not ordinarily get the hands on equipment or access to the knowledge about how to use it. The programme follows on such training project - Vision Shorts, for people recovering from mental health problems. There are touching and insightful interviews with course participants (who are evidently, although this is not stated, recovering from problems such as addiction and depression). They start off thinking that they cannot possibly make a film (or rather, a series of individual films). But by the end they have done it and the realisation hits them that perhaps they can do other things too.....

I saw this film in a cinema and was blown away by the combination of the images, the music and Paul Jacques' wonderful voice. So much imagination packed into such a short space of time! And I love the jokes (eg the collection box for "Orphans and Stuff"), I understand that while Paul has worked as a professional artist and writer, this is the first time that he has even considered making a film. But having got the bug he wants to do another. I look forward to the sequel and to anything he produces in the future. Contratulations to all involved - The Independent Film Trust, Raindance, Portugal Prints, Westminster Mind and Westminster Arts.